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When to Seek Medical Care

Serious burns and burns to the hands, face, feet, or genitals; those that circumscribe (go completely around) an extremity (arm or leg); or those that involve more than 10% of the body require immediate emergency medical attention. The burn percentage in adults: rule of nines helps determine the percent of the body affected. The surface of one's palm is about 1% body surface area. The patient with limb or life-threatening burns should be transported by ambulance to the nearest Trauma center hospital by ambulance, or if available, a trauma/burn center.

Consult a doctor for treatment with available medications and advanced treatment facilities; usually this is a doctor trained in the care of burns who is located in a regional burn center hospital. Many times, severely burned patients after they are stabilized, are transferred to such burn centers.